Saturday, April 11

Saturday in the Octave of Easter – Year A

First Reading – Acts 4:13-21

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any one in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for all men praised God for what had happened. 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 118:1 and 14-15, 16-18, 19-21

℟ I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures for ever! The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

Listen, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”

℟ I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.

He right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”

I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.

The Lord has chastened me sorely, but he has not given me over to death.

℟ I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.

Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

℟ I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.

Sequence (optional) – Victimae Paschali Laudes

Christians, to the Paschal Victim

Offer your thankful praises!

A Lamb the sheep redeems;

Christ, who only is sinless,

Reconciles sinners to the Father.

Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:

The Prince of life, who dies, reigns immortal.

Speak, Mary, declaring

What you saw, wayfaring.

“The tomb of Christ, who is living,

The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;

Bright angels attesting,

The shroud and napkin resting.

Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;

to Galilee he goes before you.”

Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.

Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!

Amen. Alleluia.

Alleluia – Psalm 118:24

℟ Alleluia!

Let those who fear the Lord say, “His mercy endures for ever.”

℟ Alleluia!

Gospel – Mark 16:9-15

Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Mag’dalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. 

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. 

Afterward he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for the unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.”

Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, Ignatius Press, Copyright ⓒ 2006.